GUTTMAN says Gershon has the physical attributes and mental strength to be a huge hit with Celtic should his transfer go through.

ISRAEL boss Eli Guttman last night backed Rami Gershon to go from outcast to Champions League stand-out when he signs for Celtic.

The defender is on the brink of escaping his Standard Liege hell, where he has plummeted out of the picture since last summer, with a dream move to the Hoops.

And his international manager reckons Gershon is the perfect recruit to galvanise Neil Lennon’s backline for the looming Champions League last-16 showdown against Juventus.

The 24-year-old’s versatility – he is equally effective at left-back and centre-half – makes him a vital addition as he negotiates a loan move to Parkhead with an option for the club to buy him for around £800,000 at the end of the season.

It’s a knockdown price but Guttman insists the player can be worth his weight in gold by shutting out the Serie A superstars to help Celts plunder more Euro riches.

He said: “Rami is a good soldier. What the manager asks he will do.

“I have no doubt he has the quality to succeed with Celtic and he will do well if he gets the opportunity to play Juventus in the Champions League.

“He is very professional with a good character and the mentality to perform at the top level. I have seen that clearly in his performances for me in the national team.

“He’s a fighter with a very good left foot and his strength in the air is a real asset.

“That, I believe, will make him well suited to Scottish football which demands a strong physical presence.

“So I expect he will fit in well on the pitch but I also think he will be popular in the dressing room. He is a very humble person who gives everything and will always put the team first.”

Gershon’s arrival in Glasgow – where he’ll team up with international colleague Beram Kayal – yesterday afternoon shows Celtic are eager to do their business quickly in this transfer window to ensure they are as well prepared as possible for the Juve clash.

With the two-week SPL winter break just beginning Gershon will have time to settle into his new surroundings – and he’ll need it because it looks like he’ll have to hit the ground running when the action resumes against Hearts on January 19.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon is staring at a central-defensive headache with Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose heading off to the African Cup of Nations and Kelvin Wilson’s two-game ban confirmed after an SFA fast-track tribunal yesterday rejected his appeal.

That should offer Gershon a chance to establish himself in the team before Juventus come calling on February 12.

And Guttman is convinced Gershon’s move to Celtic can help both him and Kayal resurrect their international careers.

Although the Israel manager rates the 24-year-old a top-class talent he’s reluctantly had to drop him since falling out of the picture at Liege. Now he believes Celtic can be the perfect springboard for Gershon to relaunch his career and show the quality that has earned him 10 caps.

And the delighted boss also reckons his presence at Parkhead will have a knock-on benefit for fellow Celt Kayal as Guttman promised to head to Glasgow to watch both players in action.

He said: “I am very happy about this because Rami needs to play.

“His chances in the national team depend on playing regularly so the most important thing for him is to leave Standard Liege – and Celtic are perfect for him to take the next step in his career.

“It will also be good for Beram because I can assure you he is on my list too.

“Beram had big injury problems last year but I am pleased to hear he is playing again. If both Beram and Rami are playing together for Celtic I will definitely want to come to Glasgow to see their progress.

“I will be very happy to see Rami and Beram playing for their club and then perhaps soon after for their country.”

The news of Celtic’s interest in Gershon emerged last week but yesterday the first indications he was on his way to seal the deal came when his agent Dudu Dahan set the internet ablaze with a teasing message on Twitter.

Showing a picture of himself sitting beside Gershon on a plane, Dahan tweeted: “Flying first class to complete the first transfer of 2013.”

But the fixer coyly declined to answer questions from Celtic fans begging to know if his final destination was Glasgow.

He finally walked through the arrivals hall at Glasgow Airport just after 5pm and was whisked into signing talks with chief executive Peter Lawwell.

While Gershon was born in Israel, most of his career has been spent in Belgium. After coming through the ranks with hometown team Hapoel Rishon LeZion he went to Standard Liege on trial in 2009.

The Belgians took him on loan for one season before making the move permanent.

They then immediately sent him out on loan to Kortrijk until January last year, when Gershon returned to become a regular feature for Liege in the second half of last season.

But an injury suffered early in the current campaign restricted him to only one appearance and he has been unable to regain his place in the team since.

Other Belgian clubs were reported to be interested in snapping him up but Gershon indicated he wanted a fresh challenge to kick-start his career.

For a man who hails from the Holy Land looking to start his resurrection, what better place to choose than Paradise.